Pocketful of Dirhams

How to get a refund on your travel plans during coronavirus

As we approach the summer, many UAE residents are thinking about their travel plans. But while we would normally be discussing the exotic destinations we are heading to, or the journeys we are planning to our home countries, this year is very different. Rather than hunting for the best deals, many of us are more focused on either securing a refund on the flights and holidays we have already booked but cannot take, or moving travel plans to much later in the year. 

So, what is the best way to secure a refund on your flights or holiday? Does travel insurance protect us at this time? When will flight restrictions be lifted around the world? And, with lots of cheap deals on offer, should we even be considering booking a holiday right now?

Host Alice Haine, the personal finance editor of The National is joined by Hayley Skirka, The National’s travel correspondent, who guides us through all the options for travellers at this difficult time.

Ramadan car deals: Should you buy or sell a car during coronavirus?

It’s that time of year when many residents in the UAE consider buying a new car – mainly because the market is flooded with Ramadan offers.

From price reductions to zero financing and offers of free maintenance, registrations or insurance, they are all kinds of ways dealerships lure in customers. But buying a new car might not be a top priority for many in the Emirates at the moment who are still observing movement restrictions as the country works hard to curb the spread of coronavirus. So how are car dealerships adapting to this era of physical distancing? If you do find an offer you like, how do you know if it really is a good deal? And, more importantly, how do you test drive the car or actually purchase it?

Host Alice Haine is joined by Imad Hammad, the co-founder of second-hand car platform CarSwitch.com, to tackle these questions.

Is investing in stocks, bonds and gold a good idea in the current market?

With the coronavirus outbreak still dominating our lives, stock market volatility looks set to continue as the markets struggle to interpret the economic fallout from the crisis. While some investors may naturally want to flee the carnage and stash their money in the safest possible place, there are still options out there. Airlines, hotel chains, entertainment operators, car manufacturers and oil companies may have been hammered, but some will be better placed to bounce back when the crisis starts to ease. Meanwhile, other sectors such as supermarkets, online retailers and healthcare have benefited during the outbreak. So what is the outlook for assets such as stocks, bonds and gold now? And what can investors do to protect their portfolio?

Host Alice Haine, the personal finance editor of The National, is joined by Maurice Gravier, the chief investment officer at Emirates NBD, who offers his insights on the state of the markets.